Jean Todt, former principal of Ferrari’s Formula One team, was elected on Friday to replace Max Mosley as president of motorsport’s world governing body, beating rival Ari Vatanen by an emphatic 135 votes to 49.

His election to a four-year term is a triumph for the controversial Mr Mosley, who backed the Frenchman in what turned into a bitter campaign for the top position of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile.